Eddisbury MP Stephen O’Brien given international role by Prime Minister

THE Prime Minister has appointed Eddisbury MP Stephen O’Brien to represent the UK in its quest to support one of the poorest regions of Africa.

Mr O’Brien has been personally asked by David Cameron to take on the role of Prime Minister’s Envoy & UK Special Representative to the Sahel, a region of West Africa that is rife with food insecurity, impoverished children and vulnerable adults.

In a normal year, the deaths of 200,000 young people in the region is said to be directly linked to malnutrition.

The MP, who was born in Tanzania and educated in Kenya, will be required to regularly travel to countries such as Mali and Niger to monitor UK interests in the Sahel.

Mr O’Brien’s appointment is based on his experience and expertise in humanitarianism, as well as for his connection with Africa.

Speaking to The Chronicle about his new role, Mr O’Brien said he was ‘delighted’ to have been asked to represent the UK and hopes to bring ‘peace and reconciliation’ to the underprivileged area.

“I’m delighted the Prime Minister has asked me to take on this role.

“When he spoke to me about it I felt strongly that I should get involved and I think it draws on my experience and expertise in the region.

“The UK is rightly stepping up to its responsibilities to make for a better more peaceful role and to tackle the sources of insecurity where the surges have taken over.”

He explained: “I want to achieve peace and reconciliation and we obviously want to move as fast as we can to get a clear idea, for as long as it takes.

“I will be reporting back to the Prime Minister in a few weeks with my preliminary findings.”

But although the position will mean Mr O’Brien is overseas more often, he is keen to stress that his role as Eddisbury MP will still remain a priority.

“When you’re in Parliament your job has an international aspect,” he said.

“My family and I live in the middle of my constituency and I make it my business to be back there every week.

“It’ll mean a lot of travelling but I won’t let my new role get in the way of my responsibilities back home.”

Mr O’Brien will visit Bamako in Mali later this week for a gathering of the United Nations and European Union to discuss how both international communities can walk together.